UPDATE: FRIDAY 1/16/09 3PM
Additional reward fund set up for information on missing boy

In response to the outpouring of public assistance in the search for missing Immokalee boy Adji Desir, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is setting up a separate account where residents can donate towards a reward for information leading to Adji's whereabouts.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the reward account, which is being established exclusively for information in this case, may donate funds through Crime Stoppers. All funds received will be placed in a separate account and paid to any anonymous tipster who provides information that ultimately leads investigators to Adji. These funds will be in addition to the $1,000 reward being offered through Crime Stoppers.

Residents or businesses wishing to contribute to the reward account have two options. They may either mail checks directly to Crime Stoppers at PO Box 1829, Fort Myers, FL 33912, or drop them off at the Collier County Sheriff's Office, located at the Government Center on Airport Road and US 41 in Naples. Contributors who want their donation to be anonymous should send funds in the form of a cashier's check, rather than a personal check. All checks should be made payable to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, and should be clearly marked that they are for the Adji Desir reward fund. Donations will be deposited into this separate reward account and held for a period of one year, to be paid for information which plays a significant role in the resolution of this case, as determined by investigators. Specific amounts for rewards to multiple informants will be determined by a vote of the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers Board of Directors. All funds sent to Crime Stoppers for this purpose should be considered as a donation to Crime Stoppers and are non-refundable.

Should this case be resolved in a way that results in no reward money being paid to an informant, the money may then be used as determined by the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors for other unsolved cases.

Crime Stoppers continues to remind the public that any information on Adji's whereabouts is critically needed. Even the smallest piece of information could be helpful. Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.


UPDATE: FRIDAY 1/16/09 12 NOON
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - A slightly diminished crew is still searching for missing 6-year-old Adji Desir. However, there is still more than 200 people on the ground searching the entire Immokalee community.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office says this is one of the most extensive searches they have ever conducted. They are still treating the case as a parallel investigation; either an abduction or a case of Adji simply wandering off. They still remain very hopeful that they will bring back Adji home safe.

"We are receiving a steady flow of tips. We have received about 110 tips so far from the community. We cleared 80, all unfounded, and we're exploring the rest," said MIchelle Batton with the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

The reward money for information leading to his safe return has grown to more than $23,500. Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

Authorities are asking for more volunteers to help in the search on Saturday.


UPDATE: THURSDAY 1/15/09 6PM
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - As the sixth day of searching for a missing Immokalee boy came to a close, his family remained hopeful he will eventually come home.

His mother Maria Nedia told WINK News Thursday afternoon, it was not like Adji to wander far from home leading her to believe it's possible someone took him.

"God will give him back to me. I think he will come home," she told us through a translator.

Detectives are asking everyone to keep their eyes open for Adji. If you come across him, they say you will know right away.

While Adji knows his name, he cannot speak it. He also has a very limited vocabulary. His parents say he knows Creole, but he cannot speak it.

Right now, the search for Adji is focused on two theories: he wandered away or was abducted.

His mother and step-father, Natal Elant, could not say for sure what they think happened to Adji.

If someone did take him, his mother said, "I want this person to give him food. Feed him. He likes Corn Flakes, cookies, soup. I know he's somewhere. Please feed him."

More than 300 people searched a 16 mile area around Adji's home in the Immokalee Farm Workers Village on Thursday. The area includes Lake Trafford.

A dive team from the Tampa area assisted in the search on Thursday, allowing for the use of sonar to search the banks.

Multiple other agencies from across Florida are also pitching in to help.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office says they will continue looking for Adji on the ground until they feel they have done all they can on the ground. But that does not mean, there is an end to this desperate search.

Lt. Tom Smith said they will not give up on Adji until he is reunited with his family.

The reward for the little boy's safe return is now more than $11,000 and growing. An account with Bank of America will be set up so people can donate to the reward fund.

Anyone with information on where Adji may be is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

Tips are coming in, however law enforcement and Adji's family are still waiting for the tip that will bring him home.


UPDATE: THURSDAY 1/15/09 12 NOON
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Its day six of searching for a missing Immokalee boy. Police say the 6-year-old could have been abducted from his home at the Farm Workers Village.

The search efforts have been scaled up. More resources and more agencies have been brought in. They have also expanded the search area from 12 square miles to 16 square miles.


UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 1/14/09 7AM
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Investigators are now concentrating more on the possibility 6-year-old Adji Desir was abducted. Investigators say they have thoroughly searched open areas near the boy's home where he could have wandered in to. Law enforcement officers are searching for a fifth day in Immokalee. They will expand the search area especially along SR 29.


UPDATE: TUESDAY 1/13/09 6PM
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - The Collier County Sheriff's Office announced they would not be using their infrared camera helicopter on Tuesday night.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the search will be scaled back from 150 officers to 100 officers.


UPDATE: TUESDAY 1/13/09 12 NOON
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - The search for missing 6-year-old Adji Desir is expanding. The Immokalee boy went outside to play on Saturday and disappeared.

People from all around Southwest Florida are volunteering in the search. They are handing out flyers with pictures of the little boy.


UPDATE: MONDAY 1/12/09 6PM
Nicole Papageorge, WINK News
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - 6-year-old Adji Desir was last seen outside his grandmother's home Saturday night.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office has expanded their search area from 4 miles to 8 miles.


The Seminole Police heat-seeking camera helicopter will search for the boy Monday night.

The search will resume tomorrow, Tuesday.


UPDATE: MONDAY 1/12/09 5:30PM
By Nick Spinetto, WINK News
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - The Collier County Sheriff's Office is also asking for volunteers to help in the search for Adji Desir.

Several volunteers answered the call Monday afternoon.

The volunteers job was to go to door in different neighborhoods in Immokalee and hand out fliers with Adji's face on it.

Since the search began for the missing 6-year-old Saturday night, investigators focused on Adji's neighborhood, but with the help of volunteers, authorities hope to go to every house and business in Immokalee.

They hope the more people who see Adji's face the better chance they to find him.

"He's probably very scared. It's important everyone pool their resources," said volunteer Lorrie Johns.

Volunteers will also be out helping tomorrow. If you want to help, call the Collier County Sheriff's Office.


UPDATE MONDAY 1/12/09 12 NOON
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Deputies expanded the search for Adji Desir Monday morning. The Collier County Sheriff's Office is making flyers with pictures of the little boy in Spanish, Creole and English.

The Sheriff's Office is asking for volunteers to help in the search. Please sign-up at the Immokalee Community Park, located at 321 N 1st Street Immokalee, FL 34142. All volunteers should bring identification.


UPDATE MONDAY 1/12/09 7:15AM
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Crews will resume searching Monday morning for missing 6-year-old boy Adji Desir. He went missing from his Immokalee home at Farm Workers Village, around 7:15 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office tells WINK News that they will be expanding the search area around Farm Workers Village Monday morning.


UPDATE: SUNDAY 1/11/09 5:30PM
Release from Collier Co. Sheriff's Office:
IMMOKALEE - Dozens of law enforcement officers from agencies around Southwest Florida joined more than 100 CCSO deputies in the search for Adji Desir the six-year-old Immokalee boy that has been missing since Saturday evening.

Deputies on horseback, on ATVs, in helicopters, with K-9, as well as in patrol cars, and on foot were searching the area in and around Farm Workers Village for a second day on Sunday.

Investigators have learned that the boy is developmentally disabled and functions on a two-year-old level. The boy has a very limited vocabulary. He knows his name, but can not speak it. He understands Creole, but can not speak it. He may be hiding from searchers.

Family members initially told deputies the boy was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt and blue and yellow shorts. Since then other family members have provided deputies with a different version of a clothing description. The boy may also be wearing a blue shirt with yellow stripes, blue shorts with a pink stripe down the side and black and gray sneakers.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 793-9300.


ORIGINAL STORY: SUNDAY 1/11/09
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Deputies are searching for a 6-year-old boy reported missing in Immokalee Saturday night.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office says Adji Desir around was last seen leaving his home in Farm Workers Village around 7:15 p.m.

Deputies say Adji was watching television in his bedroom when he told his parents he was going outside to play with friends.

His parents watched him leave the house and go outside. When they went to check on him a few minutes later he was nowhere to be found. His parents called for help.

Adji is described as 3 feet tall, 45 pounds, with short black hair and dark eyes. He was wearing a blue and yellow T-shirt and blue and yellow shorts.

Deputies are searching the area with patrol cars, a helicopter and K-9s. They are also going door-to-door assisted by local firefighters.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-793-9300.